Devices and methods for operating a variable-focus imaging assembly

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for operating a variable-focus imaging assembly. An example system includes the variable-focus imaging assembly; a controller; and one or more processors configured to (a) determine if the variable-focus imaging assembly is within a threshold state of motion; (b) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being within the threshold state of motion, cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to: (i) perform at least one focus operation; (ii) capture at least one image frame; and (iii) transmit the at least one image frame to a host; and (c) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being outside the threshold state of motion, cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to abstain from at least one of: (i) performing the at least one focus operation; (ii) capturing the at least one image frame; and (iii) transmitting the at least one image frame to the host.

1 . A method of operating a variable-focus imaging assembly, the method comprising:
 (a) determining if the variable-focus imaging assembly is within a threshold state of motion;   (b) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being within the threshold state of motion, causing the variable-focus imaging assembly to:
 (i) perform at least one focus operation; 
 (ii) capture at least one image frame; and 
 (iii) transmit the at least one image frame to a host; and 
   (c) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being outside the threshold state of motion, causing the variable-focus imaging assembly to abstain from at least one of:
 (i) performing the at least one focus operation; 
 (ii) capturing the at least one image frame; and 
 (iii) transmitting the at least one image frame to the host, 
   wherein the being within the threshold state of motion is associated with the variable-focus imaging assembly being in a more stable state than being outside the threshold state of motion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one focus operation includes a ranging operation causing the variable-focus imaging assembly to:
 determine a distance between the variable-focus imaging assembly and a target; and   set a focus of the variable-focus imaging assembly based upon the distance between the variable-focus imaging assembly and the target.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one focus operation includes a ramping operation causing the variable-focus imaging assembly to:
 set a focus of the variable-focus imaging assembly to at least two focus values; and   capture at least one focused image frame at each of the at least two focus values.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to a trigger event, performing (a)-(c) until at least one of:   exceeding a timeout period; or   receiving a termination signal.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the termination signal is:
 received from the host; and   based upon a successful decode of an indicia in the at least one image frame by the host.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining if the variable-focus imaging assembly is within the threshold state of motion includes:
 capturing, via the variable-focus imaging assembly, a first image frame and a second image frame; and   determining if the variable-focus imaging assembly is within the threshold state of motion based upon comparing at least one first image frame parameter of the first image frame and at least one second image frame parameter of the second image frame.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first image frame and the second image frame each have a lower resolution than the at least one image frame. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one first image frame parameter includes a brightness parameter; and   the at least one second image frame parameter includes the brightness parameter.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the host is a decoding processor configured to decode an indicia in the at least one image frame. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the variable-focus imaging assembly and the decoding processor are housed in a common sealed housing. 
     
     
         11 . A system for operating a variable-focus imaging assembly, the system comprising:
 the variable-focus imaging assembly;   a controller of the variable-focus imaging assembly;   one or more processors; and   a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 (a) determine if the variable-focus imaging assembly is within a threshold state of motion; 
 (b) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being within the threshold state of motion, cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to:
 (i) perform at least one focus operation; 
 (ii) capture at least one image frame; and 
 (iii) transmit the at least one image frame to a host; and 
 
 (c) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being outside the threshold state of motion, cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to abstain from at least one of:
 (i) performing the at least one focus operation; 
 (ii) capturing the at least one image frame; and 
 (iii) transmitting the at least one image frame to the host, 
 
   wherein the being within the threshold state of motion is associated with the variable-focus imaging assembly being in a more stable state than being outside the threshold state of motion.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one focus operation includes a ranging operation, the ranging operation further comprising the one or more processors being configured to cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to:
 determine a distance between the variable-focus imaging assembly and a target; and   set a focus of the variable-focus imaging assembly based upon the distance between the variable-focus imaging assembly and the target.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one focus operation includes a ramping operation, the ramping operation further comprising the one or more processors being configured to cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to:
 set a focus of the variable-focus imaging assembly to at least two focus values; and   capture at least one focused image frame at each of the at least two focus values.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the one or more processors being configured to:
 responsive to a trigger event, perform (a)-(c) until at least one of:
 exceeding a timeout period; or 
 receiving, by the controller, a termination signal. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the termination signal is:
 received from the host; and   based upon a successful decode of an indicia in the at least one image frame by the host.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein to determine if the variable-focus imaging assembly is within the threshold state of motion, the one or more processors are further configured to:
 capture, via the variable-focus imaging assembly, a first image frame and a second image frame; and   determine if the variable-focus imaging assembly is within the threshold state of motion based upon comparing at least one first image frame parameter of the first image frame and at least one second image frame parameter of the second image frame.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first image frame and the second image frame each have a lower resolution than the at least one image frame. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the at least one first image frame parameter includes a brightness parameter; and   the at least one second image frame parameter includes the brightness parameter.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the host is a decoding processor configured to decode an indicia in the at least one image frame. 
     
     
         20 . A tangible machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 (a) determine if a variable-focus imaging assembly is within a threshold state of motion;   (b) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being within the threshold state of motion, cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to:
 (i) perform at least one focus operation; 
 (ii) capture at least one image frame; and 
 (iii) transmit the at least one image frame to a host; and 
   (c) responsive to the variable-focus imaging assembly being outside the threshold state of motion, cause the variable-focus imaging assembly to abstain from at least one of:
 (i) performing the at least one focus operation; 
 (ii) capturing the at least one image frame; and 
 (iii) transmitting the at least one image frame to the host, 
   wherein the being within the threshold state of motion is associated with the variable-focus imaging assembly being in a more stable state than being outside the threshold state of motion.